Faye targets Rovers' scalp

Stoke, Latest news update: April 14, 2009 1:16 PM[[views]]

Stoke City defender Abdoulaye Faye has warned his former boss Sam Allardyce he is ready to score against Blackburn this weekend.

Faye scored a header from a corner as Stoke drew 1-1 with Newcastle at the weekend and the Senegalese international has warned Allardyce he is ready to do the same this weekend when Stoke line-up for another relegation six-pointer against Blackburn Rovers.
Allardyce has twice signed Faye, first with Bolton Wanderers and then with Newcastle United, but the big centre-half is eager to get one over on his former manager by adding to his relegation woes.
"Allardyce was good for me," Faye told the Stoke Sentinel. "He took me to Newcastle and he liked me very much. But I want to score against him. That would be good.
"I told my mate, a Newcastle fan, that I would score against them and I am very happy I did.
"I am very happy that I have now scored two goals against Newcastle this season because they are my old club. It means a lot because you play there before."
Stoke striker James Beattie suffered a head injury in the draw with Newcastle but should be fit for the encounter with Rovers. However, Faye joked he would be willing to fill in up-front should boss Tony Pulis need him.
He said: "Maybe now I play centre-forward instead of him (Beattie) after all these goals."
The Potters are still involved in the relegation scrap but Faye is confident that if they can beat Blackburn they will have done enough to secure a second term in the Premier League.
He added: "I cannot go down. I worked too hard for that. Everybody here has worked hard. Maybe we win one game and draw one, then we are all right.
"We must try and win that game against Blackburn on Saturday, then we are all happy here at Stoke City."